Compare the2024 Subaru CrosstrekVS 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Crosstrek are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Crosstrek has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Crosstrek Limited/Wilderness has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Crosstrek’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Crosstrek’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Crosstrek and the Eclipse Cross have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Subaru Crosstrek is much safer than the Eclipse Cross:

	Crosstrek	Eclipse Cross
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	131	155
Neck Tension	134 lbs.	268 lbs.
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	POOR
Torso Max Deflection	1.3 in	2.28 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	10 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	848 lbs.	1294 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	134 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.97 in	2.01 in
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

The Crosstrek’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Eclipse Cross’ (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are almost 2 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Mitsubishi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Crosstrek’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Crosstrek’s reliability 49 points higher than the Eclipse Cross.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Mitsubishi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mitsubishi is rated below average.

Engine

The Crosstrek Sport/Limited/Wilderness’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 30 more horsepower (182 vs. 152) than the Eclipse Cross’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru Crosstrek is faster than the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross:

	Crosstrek 2.0	Crosstrek Sport/Limited/Wilderness	Eclipse Cross
Zero to 60 MPH	9.1 sec	7.9 sec	9.6 sec
Quarter Mile	17 sec	16.1 sec	17.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	84.8 MPH	88.6 MPH	78.9 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Crosstrek gets better mileage than the Eclipse Cross:

			MPG
Crosstrek
	AWD	Sport/Limited 2.5 DOHC flat-4	26 city/33 hwy
		Wilderness 2.5 DOHC flat-4	25 city/29 hwy
		2.0 DOHC flat-4	27 city/34 hwy
Eclipse Cross
	AWD	ES 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/28 hwy
		1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/26 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Crosstrek’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Crosstrek higher (7 out of 10) than the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (5). This means the Crosstrek produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Eclipse Cross every 15,000 miles.

The EPA certifies the Subaru Crosstrek as a “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV). The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is only certified to “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) standards.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Crosstrek’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Eclipse Cross:

	Crosstrek	Eclipse Cross
Front Rotors	12.4 inches	11.6 inches

The Crosstrek’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Eclipse Cross are solid, not vented.

The Crosstrek stops shorter than the Eclipse Cross:

	Crosstrek	Eclipse Cross
70 to 0 MPH	172 feet	178 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Crosstrek has larger tires than the Eclipse Cross (225/60R17 vs. 215/70R16).

The Crosstrek’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Eclipse Cross ES’ standard 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Crosstrek has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Eclipse Cross ES.

Suspension and Handling

The Crosstrek Limited handles at .81 G’s, while the Eclipse Cross SE pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Crosstrek executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Eclipse Cross SEL (28.2 seconds @ .58 average G’s vs. 29 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Crosstrek has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Eclipse Cross (8.7 vs. 8.5 inches), allowing the Crosstrek to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Crosstrek Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is .8 inch higher than on the Eclipse Cross (9.3 vs. 8.5 inches).

Chassis

The front grille of the Crosstrek uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Crosstrek has 3.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Eclipse Cross (100.5 vs. 96.7).

The Crosstrek has .3 inches more front headroom, 2 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 3.2 inches more rear hip room and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Eclipse Cross.

Cargo Capacity

The Crosstrek has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Eclipse Cross with its rear seat folded (54.7 vs. 50.1 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Crosstrek. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is limited to 1500 pounds. The Crosstrek offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Crosstrek is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Eclipse Cross. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Crosstrek’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Eclipse Cross has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The power windows standard on both the Crosstrek and the Eclipse Cross have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Crosstrek is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Eclipse Cross prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Crosstrek’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Eclipse Cross’ standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

The Crosstrek’s power locks have a lockout prevention feature. When the key is in the passenger compartment and the driver’s door is open, the locks unlock every time you lock them. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t provide lockout prevention.

The Eclipse Cross’ standard power locks don’t automatically lock the doors. The Crosstrek’s standard doors lock when a certain speed is reached. This is an important feature for occupant safety. Locked doors are proven to open less often in collisions, and they are also effective in preventing crime at traffic lights.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Crosstrek has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Eclipse Cross only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Crosstrek has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Eclipse Cross has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the SE/SEL.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Crosstrek has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Crosstrek’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Eclipse Cross offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Crosstrek has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Eclipse Cross SE/SEL.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Subaru Crosstrek offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® chose the Subaru Crosstrek as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross isn't recommended.

The Subaru Crosstrek outsold the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross by over 16 to one during 2023.

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